Prepared by Rev. Alice Blair Wesley and presented recently at First Parish UU Church in Norwell, Massachusetts, Rev. Wesley suggests that most people attend church services to be reminded of and brought again to feel the charm of all that we love and cherish most. She asks many questions, including, "What does love ask of you today?"

Peter Lauricella, was born in Boston, MA and spent almost all of his life in suburban Boston. A former active member of First Parish UU Church in Bridgewater, MA, Peter considers himself a second generation UU, having learned about Unitarianism from his daughter. In addition to a daughter, who lives in Port Perry, Peter has a son, Daniel, who has lived in New Orleans, Louisiana for over 10 years.

We hear so much about the Boomer Generation. This morning Cheryl reflects on the women who gave birth to this unique cohort… and were responsible for their earliest formation.Note: You are invited to make a list of up to 5 things that you would include in a letter to your mother… things that you would like her to know. These will be shared with the congregation during the service.

Rev. Cheryl Jack was UUCD`s first minister. She enjoys occasions when she is invited to, once again, engage the congregation. She is enjoying retirement in Beaverton, on the shore of Lake Simcoe, with her husband Andris and best friend Domino. She finds lots to keep her busy as she participates in the life of the community.

Today is the day of Fiona's ordination, the final step in the journey towards ministry. Fiona will reflect on the hopes and fears that are part of all life transitions.

Fiona Heath became a UU minister in September 2012. Now she is our part time minister. YEA! Her ordination is at 4 pm today in Waterloo. After this date we will be able to refer to her as Rev. Fiona. She lives in Waterloo with her partner and son.

​"Who Ya Gonna Surf: Sorting out truth and truthiness on social and legacy media." We rely on newspapers, magazines, internet, TV, Radio, etc. for information which often shapes our opinions, beliefs and attitudes…….how do we know if the sources are accurate, unbiased, and worthy of our attention? What is responsible journalism? John will discuss these and other current ethical questions related to journalism and the information world in 2012/13.

John Miller is one of the leading consultants on journalism and the media in Canada. His careers as a reporter, writer, activist, teacher, researcher and consultant span more than 40 years. John was the former head of Journalism at Ryerson where he pioneered courses on cover diversity in the media. He was the founding editor of the Sunday Star and author of the acclaimed book: “Yesterday’s News: Why Canada’s Daily Newspapers are Failing Us.” Now retired, John continues to write and blog on all matters pertaining to journalism, ethics, and the information world. He is frequently called upon by the Canadian courts as a leading expert witness and consultant regarding multiculturalism issues in journalism. John currently makes his home in Port Hope where he and his wife, Sandy, love country life, trips to Costa Rica, and their beloved chocolate lab, Freud.

“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." says the Book of Exodus. Today we celebrate the wonders of the earth beneath our feet."

Fiona Heath became a UU minister in September 2012. Now she is our part-time minister. YEA! Her ordination date is set for May 5. After this date we will be able to refer to her as Rev. Fiona. She lives in Waterloo with her partner and son.

Dying With Dignity Canada was founded in 1982. “We are a national, member-based charity committed to helping people achieve quality in dying. We help people understand all their end of life choices and work for choice in dying for all Canadians." Their mission is: Improving individuals' quality of dying and expanding Canadians' end-of-life choices.

Dr. Gregory Robinson, MD MHSc CCFP FCFP FRCPC is a physician with a specialty in Public Health Sciences. For many years he delivered family-based care in a palliative care setting.

Margo Holland is a member of Don Heights and a Dying With Dignity volunteer because she believes passionately in end-of-life choices and helping others to know what their rights are. “Everyone should have the right to informed end of life care and a gentle death.”

All of us have our own 'stuff' that we have to walk through and deal with throughout our lives. One of the 'tricks' is to spend more energy discovering and appreciating the gems along the way rather than the struggle of working through the muck. Part of this presentation will be about what is possible.

Ric Jones is a Candidate for Unitarian Universalist ministry. He received his Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, Illinois in May 2012. Currently, Ric serves as a member of the national (USA) Board of Directors and Canadian Representative for the Basal Cell Carcinoma Nevus Syndrome (BCCNS) Life Support Network based in Ohio. He has been tasked to establish a similar organization here in Canada. Ric has also been attending several training sessions (e.g., Healthy Congregations facilitator, Emotional Process in Family Systems) as foundational to the development of his own business of ministry to organizations and congregations to help them become healthier through change transformation, educational initiatives and stakeholder engagement.

Dr. Hannah Scott is a founding faculty member of UOIT. Her specializations include victimology, statistics, homicide studies, and more recently, the addition of drug courts to the Canadian Legal System. She is a founder and current Director of the Centre for Evaluation and Survey Research (CESR), which provides a full complement of high-quality evaluation and survey research services in a technologically enhanced environment to the university and larger community.

When we see ourselves as ‘the realest, most vivid and important person in existence,’ how can we possibly respect and interact in a meaningful way with the ‘other’? Cheryl, fresh from her stay in Key West and participation in the “One Island Family” UU church, will share her thoughts about the possibility of a world united as one. From a parade on Martin Luther King Day and a MLK service in an AME church…to observing people on the streets of ‘Paradise’ she ponders the question.

Rev. Cheryl Jack is minister emerita of the UUCD. She lives in Beaverton with Andris and new family member, Domino the Shih Tzu. Life in small town Ontario agrees with her and she finds plenty to keep her busy including participation in the work of “Big Sisters of Durham Region”.